RoboticsMaster
Currently, I just received my EZ Board. I had updated the firmware, and done the servo speed test. After an hour, I disconnected it and tried to reconnect it to the programmer, but it could not connect and said I needed to update the firmware yet again. As I finished updating it, I rebooted the board only to find no blue led flashing, and only the red led flashing with an error of my brand new board not working. I know I have the correct voltage, but I don't know much to do to fix this problem. Please help immediately. :(
Here was the fail code:
Connection Failed: System.TimeoutException: The write timed out. at System.IO.Ports.SerialStream.Write(Byte[] array, Int32 offset, Int32 count, Int32 timeout) at System.IO.Ports.SerialPort.Write(Byte[] buffer, Int32 offset, Int32 count) at EZ_B.EZB.Connect(String portName) Disconnected
Your Bluetooth dongle is dropping the connection. Some Bluetooth packets just arent reliable with ez board. What Bluetooth dongle are you using? Also be sure to disable power saving on usb which causes your connection issues too.
Ok, so my manafacturer model of the first bluetooth dongle I had was the one provided with the EZB kit, and the second one I had purchased before then was a Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator. However, since I have win 7, I am not quite sure of how to cut off power management. confusedOther than that, will this fix the board's capability to flash both leds and work again?
It would be impossible for the firmware to effect the hardware like that. The fast blink of the bluetooth module says the board has been shorted. Both the bluetooth and microchip could be damaged. There has never been a damaged firmware update because the firmware updater only saves the data if the checksum is correct - unless you disconnected the power while the firmware was being written (not uploaded). You have written many posts and emails regarding this issue, one will do in the future.
To rectify this, the only solution is to send us your EZ-B for repair. Press the Contact Us tab and someone will provide you with an address to send your EZ-B to for repair.
Alright, and yes I will not do that again in the future, sorry! Thanks DJ! PS: Also thank you so much for my autographed board you sent me for my b-day, as well as the extra electronics! :)
Nice . Autographed board is awesome! I envy you robotics master
@RoboticsMaster, super nice to meet you
We'll get your robot building in no time :D
@RoboticsMaster It is hard to be sure, but it looks like you have your EZ-B sitting on a anti-static bag?... because these bags are used to carry and protect electronic components, it is generally assumed (by many, including myself many years ago :P) that they are safe to set the same electronic components on for testing or use, when in actuality that is potently harmful! to quote Wikipedia;
"To create the anti-static effect, the black or silver bags are slightly conductive, forming a Faraday cage around the item to be protected and preventing any localized charges from being deposited onto the protected devices as the bags are handled."
Just an FYI for all... to help save a PIC from an untimely death
Any surface you set electronics on needs to be conductivity isolated. Anti-static bags, surfaces and straps are meant to keep us the user from discharging our surface charge through the circuit, thus the bag coating draws that charge to the outer surface of the bag where it can be discharged away, but setting live circuits on it can allow potential shorting, not generally enough to spark or carry notable current, but enough that could effect/damage ICs and other static sensitive components.
@DJ My BD is coming up soon :P